Dubai facts and stats

Last updated: 17th November 2009

Confused by what's happening in Dubai this week? Let us explain....

Who is playing?

In theory, the top 60 on the Race To Dubai standings (the European Money List). In reality just 58 players will tee it up with Paul Casey injured and Anthony Kim deciding not to compete.

Who can win the Race To Dubai?

It's a four-way shootout between Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Ross Fisher. Victory in the Dubai World Championship for any of the first three named will ensure they are crowned European No.1. Here are the permutations:

Rory McIlroy: Will take the crown regardless of how he plays if Westwood is outside the top seven, Kaymer the top four and Fisher the top two.

Lee Westwood: Cannot be stopped if he wins. If he is second he will be champion if McIlroy is not first or tied second and Kaymer does not win.

Martin Kaymer: Cannot be stopped if he wins. If he is second he will be champion if McIlroy and Westwood are not first or tied second and Fisher does not win.

Ross Fisher: Has to finish first or second just to have a chance. If he wins he will still be denied if McIlroy or Westwood finish second.

Is this the richest event in the history of golf?

When the Dubai World Championship was unveiled two years ago the plan was for golf's first 10 million-dollar tournament - with another 10 million on offer from a bonus pool for the European Tour's top 15 money-winners.

In September, however, it was announced that both sums were being slashed by a quarter "to reflect the current worldwide economic position", as Tour chief executive George O'Grady put it.

As a result the Players Championship in Florida in May still carries the sport's largest purse at 9.5 million US dollars, while if you include bonus pool cash then everything is dwarfed by the Tour Championship in Atlanta.

The tournament there is worth 7.5 million US dollars, but it is the last leg of the FedEx Cup play-off series and that carries a bonus pot of 35 million US dollars, 10 million of it to the winner.

League table of golf's richest events (in US dollars):

9.5million Players Championship, Jacksonville, USA
8.6million Open Championship, Turnberry, Scotland
8.5million WGC-Accenture Match Play, Tucson, USA
8.5million WGC-CA Championship, Miami, USA
8.5million WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, Akron, USA
7.5million US Open, New York, USA
7.5million US PGA Championship, Chaska, USA
7.5million The Barclays, New Jersey, USA
7.5million Deutsche Bank Championship, Boston, USA
7.5million BMW Championship, Chicago, USA
7.5million Tour Championship, Atlanta USA
7.5million Dubai World Championship, United Arab Emirates
7million The Masters, Augusta, USA
7million WGC-HSBC Champions, Shanghai, China

What is the Prize Fund this week?

Here's what the top five finishers will pocket (in US dollars)

1) $1,250,000
2) 833,333
3) 487,500
4) 375,000
5) 300,000

And of course, this is on top of the 10 million dollar Race to Dubai bonus pool which the top 15 finishers in the final year-long standings will receive. First prize for the bonus pool will be $1.5 million so McIlroy, Westwood, Kaymer or Fisher could walk away with $2.75 million dollars if they won both!

Is it true that the Earth Course is the longest in European Tour history?

Not quite. The Greg-Norman designed layout will be the second-longest.

With the shortest of the four par-fives measuring 572 yards, only one par-four under 400 yards and two of the par-threes over 200 yards the lay-out is 7,675 yards in total.

The final four-hole stretch has been described as a "Golden Mile", with Norman commenting: "I expect it will be considered one of the most challenging and exciting miles of golf in terms of risk and reward.

"It comprises a short par-four, a long par-four, a great par-three and a medium-to-long par-five, so a lot of things can happen."

Will it favour long hitters?

Not necessarily. Some accuracy will be required too. However, if you want to know the five longest drivers on the European Tour who are taking part this week, they are:

1) Alvaro Quiros 314.8, 2) Rory McIlroy 301.9, 3) Johan Edfors 300.9, 4) Rafael Cabrera-Bello 300.2, 5) Lee Westwood 300.0.

What will the weather be like?

As you'd expect in this part of the world. Temperatures of around 31 degrees, lots of sunshine and just the odd scattering of clouds.